"I want to thank you for tonight about how you risked your own safety to come and get me. If he was there I don't know what he would have done to you. If he hurt you…….." Catherine was saying before she couldn't finish any more. She broke down crying into Sara's right shoulder. Sara stood there holding Catherine in her arms. Sara ran her right hand in stroke down Catherine's silky smooth strawberry blonde hair.

"Catherine it's alright. You're safe here with me. I won't let that pathetic excuse of a man hurt you anymore. Besides I don't care what could have happened to me. I could have taken him easily." Sara said softly to Catherine being her spit fire self. Catherine couldn't help but smile at Sara's reassuring word. She let out a low short laugh when she heard the last part. Sara lowered her head to Catherine's right ear. "Catherine I wan you to stay with me until I know for curtain that you are safe from that man." Sara whispered against Catherine's left ear. Sara's hot breath brushed over Catherine's eyes and she it her lower lip trying to suppress a moan. Without warning Sara picked Catherine up bridal style and carried her into the apartment building and up the stairs to her apartment. Sara was a tom boy where she had come from. She did work out in her free time and sometimes went back to her home town to play tackle football with her old guy friends. Lifting Catherine and carrying her even up the stairs was no problem for her. Once at her door she set the strawberry blonde down and pulled out her keys and unlocked the door and opened it. Catherine sighed in relief finally being in a place she knew she was going to be safe in. She knew she was safe with Sara but she knew she was even more safe with Sara in Sara's apartment because one of the reasons was that she knew that Sara had a gun hidden somewhere in the place. Sara picked Catherine up bridal style and carried her into the apartment closing the door behind them with her left foot. She carried Catherine into the bed room. She gently laid Catherine down onto the soft, large, queen sized bed. "I need to tend to your cuts." Sara said softly gently touching her right hand to the cut on Catherine's head.

"No please don't bother I can take care of my cuts myself." Catherine said as the memories of that night burned into her mind," Shit." Catherine swore.

"What Cath?" Sara asked tilting her head.

"Lindsey is over at a friend's house." Catherine said worry filling her voice.

"What's the number?" Sara asked picking up her cell phone. Catherine willingly gave Sara the number. Sara dialed it and pressed talk. The phone rang a few times.

"Hello?" A female voice asked on the other end.

"Yes this is Sara I am calling for Catherine. Is Lindsey alright?" Sara asked.

"Oh yes she is perfectly fine. Her father just came and got her." The female said happy to answer the question. Sara's heart sank immediately.

"Do you know where he said he was taking her?" Sara asked trying to keep her composure.

"I do believe he said he was taking her home." The female answered.

"Thank you. Bye." Sara send then flipped the phone shut," he's got her."

Catherine's eyes began to fill with fear. Her face showed the same emotion. "Sara what if he hurts her? What if he arrives back at the house to see I am not there and takes his rage out on Lindsey?" Catherine asked as she started to cry.

"I won't let any of that take place Catherine." Sara replied as she walked over to her side of the bed and opened the night stand. She opened the drawer to reveal a black short barrel pistol and a large white box. Sara took out the gun and took a handful of bullets out of the white box and put them in her right pants pocket. "Stay here Catherine and don't make any noise. Just stay in bed and try to sleep." Sara ordered. Catherine was going to protest but decided it was best to listen to Sara.

"What about you?" Catherine asked looking at Sara.

"I'm going to go get Lindsey." Sara replied.

"Be careful." Catherine said as she tried to stop crying.

"Always." Sara said putting on a devilish grin. Sara walked out of the bed room then the apartment and down to her car. Once she got in she started it and drove off quickly in the direction of Catherine's house. When she neared the house she could see Eddie's red sports car in the driveway. A low growl rumbled in Sara's throat as she thought about the pain he had caused the one she loved dearly. Sara parked her car near the house and left it running. She got out, pistol in her left hand, and walked up the house. The front door was wide open so Sara took it as an invitation to enter without having permission. She entered the house and saw the gruesome scene again which tore at her heart and filled her body with sorrow and rage. "Lindsey?" Sara called out softly knowing Eddie had bad ears but Lindsey didn't. Lindsey heard Sara's voice and ran down the stairs and launched herself at Sara. She flung her arms around d the brunette and cried into Sara's stomach seeing as how Lindsey wasn't really that tall. She took fist fulls of Sara's black t-shirt. "It's alright Lindsey." Sara said softly trying to reassure Lindsey.

"Where's mommy?" Lindsey cried.

"She's safe I promise you." Sara said," Look at me Lindsey." Lindsey looked up at Sara, tears streaming down her face. "Go pack a few pairs of clothes and I'll take you to mommy okay?" Sara ordered to the young girl softly. Lindsey nodded then ran up the stairs it was when Lindsey was out of sight that Eddie came strolling into the foyer. He had a few scratches on his face. Sara had to hold in a laugh. She never knew that Catherine could fight Eddie especially when she never told the cops about him abusing her.

"You can't take her from me." Eddie said in a stern voice. He didn't notice the gun.

"Oh yeah?" Sara asked raising her right eye brow in a cocky gesture," Watch me." He moved towards her making her feel threatened. Sara raised the gun and pointed at his face. As soon as he saw it he stopped dead in his tracks.

"You won't shoot me." He laughed.

"Really? I should have shot your dick off for hurting Catherine. Don't push me either." Sara growled at him still aiming the gun in his face. He stood still.

"You love her don't you?" Eddie asked smugly.

"And if I do? There is nothing that you or anyone else can do to make me not love her." Sara replied through clenched teeth.

"She always talked about you, you know?" Eddie answered.

"She did?" Sara asked a little shocked.

"Yes she said you were a bitch….an ice queen." He said laughing.

"She would never say such things you lying sack of shi……." Sara was saying before she heard Lindsey coming out from the girl's bed room. Sara lowered the gun to her side. Eddie knew that Sidle knew how to aim and shoot in a heart beat so he stayed where he was. Lindsey ran down the stairs and to Sara. Lindsey had a pink book bag on her back.

"Are you ready to go Sara?" Lindsey asked. Sara slipped the gun into her front left pocket. She gently rested left hand on the handle.

"Of course I am Lindsey. Let's go see mommy." Sara said smiling at Lindsey. Lindsey flashed a wide smile back and trotted outside. Once Lindsey was out of ear shot Sara turned to Eddie. "Make no mistake Ed you lay one hand or even one hair on either of them and you'll have a cap in your mouth so fast you won't get a chance to say shit." Sara said a low growl escaping her throat.

"You can't keep them from me forever." Eddie said.

"Don't ever underestimate me Ed." Sara said before turning and leaving the house. She walked over to the car and before she got into the car she slipped the gun into the glove box then got in and buckled up. Once Lindsey was set they drove off to Sara's apartment.

"So where is mommy?" Lindsey asked looking out the window and at the lights that streamed by as Sara drove.

"Back at my place Linds. You'll see her soon. She is fine. She worried about you so I came and got you." Sara answered keeping her gaze to the road a head.

"Are you mommy's knight and shinning armor?" Lindsey asked looking at Sara. Sara smiled softly.

"Well now I wouldn't call myself that……" Sara was saying.

"I'll ask mommy when I see her." Lindsey said smiling.

Sara soon pulled into the parking lot and slowed the car to a stop and turned it off. Lindsey got out as did Sara. "Want to have a race Lindsey?" Sara asked smiling.

"Sure." Lindsey replied.

"First one to the third floor and to the apartment door labeled 35 wins." Sara said," ready…..set…..GO!" Lindsey and Sara both quickly took off running towards the building. Sara was way faster then Lindsey but held her speed back so Lindsey could win. They both ran up the spiraling stairs, Lindsey in the lead and Sara not to far behind, Lindsey was first to arrive at the door. "You beat me squirt." Sara said laughing as she unlocked the door. Once the door was unlocked Sara opened the door.

"Yeah well get use to it Sara." Lindsey laughed entering the apartment. As soon as Catherine heard Lindsey's voice she got out of bed and ran into the living room. She ran up to Lindsey and scooped Lindsey into her arms and spun her around. Lindsey giggled as they spun. Catherine soon put Lindsey down.

"I don't know how I could ever repay you." Catherine said smiling at Sara.

"It was nothing. Alright squirt go get ready for bed. Your bed room is the guest room." Sara said. Lindsey nodded then turned to Catherine.

"Mommy can I ask you something?" Lindsey asked looking up at Catherine.

"Yeah go a head Linds." Catherine replied.

"Is Sara your knight and shinning armor?" Lindsey asked.

Catherine smiled softly and knelt down next to Lindsey. "I guess she is." Catherine said smirking up at Sara. Sara's face turned a slight shade of red. Lindsey laughed then ran off to the guest room. Catherine stood up. "I have something to tell you." Catherine said softly as she got closer to Sara.

Sara's heart pounded in her chest. "Yeah?" Sara asked nervously.

"I……………

TO BE CONTINUED……………